Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALOSZIH’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALOSZIH’, particularly characterized by having purple flowers with a broad, lighter purple edge, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALOSZIH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALOSZIH’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive and unique purple flowers with a broad, lighter purple edge, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALOSZIH’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in October 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘unknown’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘unknown’ (unpatented). At the time of the crossing the parent plants were known. However, due to a migration of information systems, the original crossing data cannot be determined with certainty. Therefore, the parents are considered to be unknown and no comparison with the female or male parents can be made.

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in October 2010. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 25, 2017. ‘PHALOSZIH’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALOSZIH’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant.

-   -   1) Purple flowers with a broad, lighter purple edge;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week old plants in May 2017. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALOSZIH’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALOSZIH’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALOSZIH’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALOSZIH’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in May 2017 on 50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALOSZIH’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘unknown’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190B/C)             with branching lateral roots having red-purple colored root             tips (RHS N79B/C). -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50             weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to             panicle.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 39.0 cm to 49.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 31.0 cm to 33.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm             to 19.0 cm. Width: 7.0 cm to 8.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 20 degrees and 35 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS             147B and 187A. Texture: Rough. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.8 mm.             Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper             surface: RHS 187A and 147A. Lower surface: RHS 187A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 15.         -   Length.—39.0 cm to 49.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.8 mm to 5.3 mm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200A) and green (RHS 147B).         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Callosities.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 150.0 mm to             180.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 70.0 mm to 75.0 mm. Diameter: 85.0 mm to             90.0 mm. Depth of lip: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 8 to 12 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.             Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color:             Purple-red (RHS N77B) and green (RHS 147C).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from             base to tip): 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Width: 54.0 mm to 56.0 mm.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light             purple (RHS 76B). Over color: Purple (RHS N78A). Lower             surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS 76B). Over color:             Purple (RHS N78B).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded to slightly             emarginated. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 41.0             mm to 43.0 mm. Width: 28.0 mm to 30.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78A/B).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS             N78B). Over color: Light purple (RHS 76A) and slightly light             green (RHS 196B) in the middle.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 40.0 mm to             42.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Purple (RHS N78B). Over             color: Light green at the base (RHS 145D) and dark red (RHS             183A) spots. Lower surface: Basic color: Light purple (RHS             76A). Over color: Green (RHS 196B) at the base and purple             stripe (RHS N78B) in the middle.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 11.0             mm to 13.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Dark red (RHS 187A).             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Entire. Length: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 15.0 mm             to 17.0 mm. Color: Slightly yellow at the base (RHS 8B) with             dark stripes (RHS 59A) on one side and purple along the edge             (RHS 71A).         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 19.0             mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Color: Slightly             yellow (RHS 8B) and dark red (RHS 59A/B) at the base and             purple (RHS N78A) toward the whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.             Length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 8B) dotted (RHS 178A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 5.1 mm to             5.4 mm. Color: Purple (RHS N78A/B).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 26A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.4 mm to 2.6 mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 36.0 mm to 38.0 mm. Diameter: 3.1 mm to             3.3 mm. Color: Green at the base (RHS 147C) and purple (RHS             N78D) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

The female and male parent plants of ‘PHALOSZIH’ are unknown, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALOSZIH’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALDUKAI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,157) and ‘PHALDANBO’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,930). ‘PHALOSZIH’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDUKAI’ in that ‘PHALOSZIH’ has flowers with a broad edge pattern, a slightly yellow apical lobe with dark red at the base and purple toward the whiskers, and a callus with yellow sides, whereas ‘PHALDUKAI’ has flowers with a center pattern, a dark red apical lobe and a callus with brown sides. Additionally, ‘PHALOSZIH’ has narrower dorsal sepals than ‘PHALDUKAI’.

‘PHALOSZIH’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDANBO’ in that ‘PHALOSZIH’ has flowers with a broad edge pattern, a slightly yellow apical lobe with dark red at the base and purple toward the whiskers and a medium-sized, yellow (RHS 8B) callus, whereas ‘PHALDANBO’ has flowers with a small edge pattern, a dark red apical lobe and a small, yellow (RHS 15A) callus. Additionally, ‘PHALOSZIH’ has narrower dorsal sepals than ‘PHALDANBO’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALOSZIH’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 